In July, Department of Education (ED) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to establish a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee to determine the eligibility requirements for Workforce Pell, created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. ACTE, in partnership with Advance CTE, submitted comments on August 28 to provide recommendations on the best path forward for the implementation of short-term Pell.
Our recommendations highlight the importance of formally including subbaccalaureate institutions, such as community and technical colleges and area technical centers, within the Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) Committee. These institutions will play a central role in program implementation.
Additionally, we recommended that Workforce Pell build on existing state-defined terms and systems developed in Perkins V and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). For example, states define high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand sectors, and many maintain lists of credentials of value. While definitions vary by state, this existing work provides a strong foundation for aligning programs with local labor market needs within local contexts. Flexibility will be important however, as many definitions were designed for longer-term pathways rather than short-term training programs.
Implementation of Workforce Pell should also recognize the need for reliable data on program outcomes. Many states face significant challenges in linking education and workforce data, and only a small number currently use actual wage outcomes to assess credentials of value. Future guidance should acknowledge these challenges, avoid unrealistic reporting requirements and support capacity-building efforts, including through federal data initiatives.
As the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee begins, ACTE will continue to provide updates to help our members best understand the implementation process. If you have any questions, please reach out to ACTE’s Government Relations Manager, Jimmy Koch (jkoch@acteonline.org).
